Young woman takes her own life hours after friend's funeral

THE funeral of a young Lagmore woman took place last weekend after she
took her own life just hours after attending the funeral of a sixth friend
to die by suicide.

Andrea Toner, 21, died early on Tuesday, February 22 and was buried at
Blaris Cemetery following a funeral service at Christ the Redeemer Church in
Lagmore last Saturday.

The former Northern Ireland Under 16 Schoolgirl football international
had just left the funeral of a friend, who had taken his own life and was
buried on Monday, February 2J, when she was found by a passer-by in
Twinbrook.

Speaking at Andrea's funeral, Father John Forsythe said her parents Karen
and Hugh "did all they could to help her, in the good times and in the bad.
They remember her as one with a heart of gold."

Fr Forsythe said she had many friends "who had been life-giving and good
for Andrea," but that she had also become part of a much smaller group that
were not good for her," and that she had begun to take drink and drugs.

He added that her death had left the people who loved her with a "sword
of sorrow through their hearts." Andrea, who had recently completed a
Self-Development course, was described by her mother Karen as "fun loving".

The former St. Louise's College pupil is said to have struggled with the
deaths of so many friends, seeking help a year ago, when she was
hospitalised for three weeks before she was released.

Mrs. Toner said she was "numb and angry" about the sudden death of her
daughter.

Speaking to the Irish News, she said: "It's just like it's not
happening." Despite her daughter's treatment last year, Mrs. Toner said she
believed the aftercare Andrea had received was "inadequate."

"I know they say there is this and that," she said, "To me, there is no
follow-up - or whatever's on offer, the kids don't find it comfortable
because they are not going to it. "There needs to be a permanent drop-in
centre where they can go. Maybe if people who had been through it, if they
shared their experience, that would help."

Mr. Toner, who described his daughter as "bubbly", added: "We definitely
need somewhere for the kids to go, no pressure or browbeating them.

"I was talking to some of her wee mates and they are distracted. Everyone
who met her loved her."

Mr Toner said his daughter, from Altan Walk, had been affected by the
deaths of friends who had taken their own lives and was feeling "very low".

"She had been through it so many times," he said.

"Whenever I brought the subject up she would say it was crazy, madness.
Something needs to be done.

"That's why it is a shock that she has gone down the same road."

Suicide awareness support workers attended Andrea's funeral to speak with
mourners and hand out helpline numbers.